Magnetic Fields / GSH Cancer Research Results

MF, Magnetic Fields: Click to Expand ⟱
Features: Therapy
Magnetic Fields can be Static, or pulsed. The most common therapy is a pulsed magnetic field in the uT or mT range.
The main pathways affected are:
Calcium Signaling: -influence the activity of voltage-gated calcium channels.
Oxidative Stress and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Pathways
Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) and Cellular Stress Responses
Cell Proliferation and Growth Signaling: MAPK/ERK pathway.
Gene Expression and Epigenetic Modifications: NF-κB
Angiogenesis Pathways: VEGF (improving VEGF for normal cells)
PEMF was found to have a 2-fold increase in drug uptake compared to traditional electrochemotherapy in rat melanoma models

Pathways:
- most reports have ROS production increasing in cancer cells , while decreasing in normal cells.
- ROS↑ related: MMP↓(ΔΨm), ER Stress↑, UPR↑, GRP78↑, Ca+2↑, Cyt‑c↑, Caspases↑, DNA damage↑, cl-PARP↑, HSP↓, Prx,
- Raises AntiOxidant defense in Normal Cells: ROS↓, NRF2↑, SOD↑, GSH↑">GSH↑, Catalase↑,
- lowers Inflammation : NF-kB↓, COX2↓, Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines : NLRP3↓, IL-1β↓, TNF-α↓, IL-6↓, IL-8↓
- inhibit Growth/Metastases : TumMeta↓, TumCG↓, VEGF↓(mostly regulated up in normal cells),
- cause Cell cycle arrest : TumCCA↑,
- inhibits Migration/Invasion : TumCMig↓, TumCI↓, TNF-α↓,
- inhibits glycolysis /Warburg Effect and ATP depletion : HIF-1α↓, PKM2↓, GLUT1↓, LDH↓, HK2↓, PFKs↓, PDKs↓, ECAR↓, OXPHOS↓, GRP78↑, Glucose↓, GlucoseCon↓
- inhibits angiogenesis↓ : VEGF↓, HIF-1α↓, Notch↓, FGF↓, PDGF↓, EGFR↓, Integrins↓,
- Others: PI3K↓, AKT↓, STAT↓, Wnt↓, β-catenin↓, ERK↓, JNK, - SREBP (related to cholesterol).
- Synergies: chemo-sensitization, chemoProtective, cytoProtective, RadioSensitizer, RadioProtective, Others(review target notes), Neuroprotective, Hepatoprotective, CardioProtective,

- Selectivity: Cancer Cells vs Normal Cells

Non-Static Magnetic Fields (AC / Pulsed / Oscillating MF)
Rank Pathway / Axis Cancer Cells Normal Cells TSF Primary Effect Notes / Interpretation
1 Reactive oxygen species (ROS) ↑ ROS (P→R); often sustained (G) ↑ ROS (P); ↔/↓ net ROS (R→G) P, R, G Upstream redox perturbation MF perturbs electron/radical dynamics: normal cells often adapt (ROS setpoint ↓), cancer cells less so
2 NRF2 antioxidant response ↔ / insufficient NRF2 induction (R→G) ↑ NRF2 activation (R→G) R, G Adaptive redox defense Explains mixed ROS direction in normal cells (initial ↑ then adaptive ↓)
3 Glutathione (GSH) homeostasis ↓ GSH (R→G) ↔ or transient ↓ (R) with recovery (G) R, G Redox buffering capacity GSH depletion reflects sustained oxidative load; recovery indicates successful adaptation
4 Superoxide dismutase (SOD) / antioxidant enzymes ↔ or inadequate enzyme upshift (G) ↑ SOD/GPx/CAT capacity (G) G Longer-term antioxidant remodeling Often the “endpoint” readout that correlates with ROS-normalization in normal tissue
5 Mitochondrial ETC / respiration ↓ ETC efficiency; ↑ electron leak (P→R) ↔ mild, reversible ETC perturbation (P→R) P, R Bioenergetic destabilization ETC perturbation is a mechanistic bridge between MF exposure and ROS/ΔΨm changes
6 Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm / MMP) ↓ ΔΨm (R); may progress (G) ↔ preserved or reversible dip (R) R, G Mitochondrial dysfunction thresholding ΔΨm loss typically follows ROS/ETC disruption rather than preceding it
7 Ca²⁺ signaling (VGCC / ER–mitochondria Ca²⁺ flux) ↑ dysregulated Ca²⁺ influx/transfer (P→R); overload may persist (G) ↑ transient Ca²⁺ signaling (P); homeostasis restored (R→G) P, R, G Stress signal amplification Ca²⁺ dysregulation links ROS/ETC perturbation to ER stress and mitochondrial dysfunction (amplifies ΔΨm loss and UPR commitment)
8 Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) ↑ MPTP opening propensity (R); sustained opening possible (G) ↔ transient or closed (R→G) P, R, G Commitment point for mitochondrial failure MPTP opening integrates ROS, Ca²⁺ overload, and ΔΨm loss; acts as a threshold event converting reversible stress into irreversible mitochondrial dysfunction
9 ER stress / UPR ↑ ER stress (R); CHOP-commitment possible (G) ↑ adaptive UPR (R); resolves (G) R, G Proteostasis stress Often downstream of ROS + Ca²⁺ handling perturbations
10 DNA damage (oxidative) ↑ damage markers (R→G) ↔ or repaired (G) R, G Checkpoint pressure Generally secondary to ROS; interpret as stress consequence not “direct genotoxicity”
11 LDH / glycolytic flux ↓ glycolytic performance (R→G) ↔ flexible substrate switching (R→G) R, G Metabolic vulnerability Redox imbalance can destabilize high-rate glycolysis in cancer-biased contexts
12 Thioredoxin system (Trx / TrxR) ↓ functional reserve / overload (R→G) ↔ preserved capacity (G) R, G Parallel antioxidant system stress Useful when GSH-only does not explain redox phenotype 
Time-Scale Flag: TSF = P / R / G
  P: 0–30 min (physical / electron / radical effects)
  R: 30 min–3 hr (redox signaling & stress response)
  G: >3 hr (gene-regulatory adaptation)
MPTP: opening represents a mitochondrial commitment event integrating ROS and Ca²⁺ stress; sustained opening indicates irreversible bioenergetic failure.
GSH, Glutathione: Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
Glutathione (GSH) is a thiol antioxidant that scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in the formation of oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Decreased amounts of GSH and a decreased GSH/GSSG ratio in tissues are biomarkers of oxidative stress.
Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant found in every cell of the body, composed of three amino acids: cysteine, glutamine, and glycine. It plays a crucial role in protecting cells from oxidative stress, detoxifying harmful substances, and supporting the immune system.
cancer cells can have elevated levels of glutathione, which may help them survive in the oxidative environment created by the immune response and chemotherapy. This can make cancer cells more resistant to treatment.
While glutathione can be obtained from certain foods (like fruits, vegetables, and meats), its absorption from supplements is debated. Some people take N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or other precursors to boost glutathione levels, but the effects on cancer prevention or treatment are still being studied.
Depleting glutathione (GSH) to raise reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a strategy that has been explored in cancer research and therapy.
Many cancer cells have altered redox states and may rely on GSH to survive. Increasing ROS levels can induce stress in these cells, potentially leading to cell death.
Certain drugs and compounds can deplete GSH levels. For example, agents like buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) inhibit the synthesis of GSH, leading to its depletion.
Cancer cells tend to exhibit higher levels of intracellular GSH, possibly as an adaptive response to a higher metabolism and thus higher steady-state levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

"...intracellular glutathione (GSH) exhibits an astounding antioxidant activity in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS)..."
"Cancer cells have a high level of GSH compared to normal cells."
"...cancer cells are affluent with high antioxidant levels, especially with GSH, whose appearance at an elevated concentration of ∼10 mM (10 times less in normal cells) detoxifies the cancer cells." "Therefore, GSH depletion can be assumed to be the key strategy to amplify the oxidative stress in cancer cells, enhancing the destruction of cancer cells by fruitful cancer therapy."

The loss of GSH is broadly known to be directly related to the apoptosis progression.
Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
3463- MF,    Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields Alleviates Hepatic Oxidative Stress and Lipids Accumulation in db/db mice
- in-vivo, NA, NA
*hepatoP↑, *MDA↓, *GSSG↓, *GSH↑, *GPx↑, *antiOx↑, *SREBP1↓,
186- MFrot,  MF,    Selective induction of rapid cytotoxic effect in glioblastoma cells by oscillating magnetic fields
- in-vitro, GBM, GBM - in-vitro, Lung, NA
mt-ROS↑, Casp3↑, selectivity↑, TumCD↑, ETC↓, H2O2↑, eff↓, GSH↑, MMP↓,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 2 of 2

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 2

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

GSH↑, 1,   H2O2↑, 1,   mt-ROS↑, 1,  

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics ⓘ

ETC↓, 1,   MMP↓, 1,  

Cell Death ⓘ

Casp3↑, 1,   TumCD↑, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance ⓘ

eff↓, 1,   selectivity↑, 1,  
Total Targets: 9

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

antiOx↑, 1,   GPx↑, 1,   GSH↑, 1,   GSSG↓, 1,   MDA↓, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis ⓘ

SREBP1↓, 1,  

Functional Outcomes ⓘ

hepatoP↑, 1,  
Total Targets: 7

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: GSH, Glutathione
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells

Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:172  Target#:137  State#:%  Dir#:2
  wNotes=0  sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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